Silence and Violence: Speaking Out and Taking a Stand
WATCH EVENT VIDEO!
EVENT RESOURCES:
Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ Center for SRVSS (Sexual and Relationship Violence Support Services)
FACILITATOR AND PANELISTS:
FACILITATOR:
PANELISTS:
Native of Aberdeen, Mississippi, Donya received her Bachelor's Degree in Psychology and Criminal Justice from Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ University and is currently working on her Master's Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Donya’s current role is the Director of Domestic Violence and Visitation Services at Safer Futures, Portage County's only domestic violence shelter and resource center.
Rachel Dissell is a current John S. Knight Community Impact Fellow and a member of the Cleveland Documenters team. She reported for The Plain Dealer in Cleveland for more than 18 years where her investigative pieces that changed laws, policies, hearts and minds.
Reinvestigating Rape, a series with reporter Leila Atassi, led to the testing of nearly 14,000 rape kits and the investigations of decades old cases that followed. Since then, defendants in nearly 800 cold cases in Cleveland have been indicted in previously unprosecuted rape cases. Researchers have built on the project’s early discoveries to redefine our understanding of serial rape in Ohio and beyond.
In 2019, Case Closed, a series with Andrea Simakis, explored the systemic failures of Cleveland police through the experience of a woman who had to solve her own rape. The story won the 2020 Dart Award for Excellence in Coverage of Trauma.
For the past decade, Dissell has trained law enforcement, nurses and advocates for End Violence Against Women International and the National Center for Victims of Crime. She also has taught emerging journalists at her alma mater, Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ University. Dissell, a Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ Journalism graduate and former executive editor of The Daily Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹r, lives in Cleveland with her husband, Tim, three children, two dogs and a tortoise.
Serving as the Director for the Center for Sexual and Relationship Violence Support Services is not only an honor for Jennie but also a passion. Since 2012, Jennie has provided oversight for the university’s prevention education, awareness, and advocacy support around power-based personal violence. As the director, Jennie is responsible for staff supervisor and operations of SRVSS, as well as developing strategic goals to educate students and support survivors.
Jennie has successfully written and received over $1,000,000 in grant funding to assist Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ in developing a model for a comprehensive community response around education, awareness and support. Finally, Jennie serves on several university level initiatives including the co-chairing the Culture of Respect Leadership Team and the Coordinated Community Response team. These initiatives are leading efforts related to university response and the prevention of unwanted sexual experiences.